Dictionary stand



Jan. 16, 1962 L. E. MAGERS DICTIONARY STAND Filed March 31, 1960 5 ry 5 M m d w 2 n U r 6 n 6 .L w w w n 4 j 0 4 V Z W (4 5 1% 5 4 4 2/ E Q. a 3/: a (Q w l M 3,016,651} DEC'EKQNARY EETAND Lloyd E. h iagers, 15% Chicago Ave, Evanston, ill. Fiied Mar. 31, 1969, Ser. No. 19363 8 Qlainrs. (ill. ifitl) This invention relates to a stand for dictionaries or the like, and more particularly to a stand of simple and rugged construction which protects the dictionary or other such article during use and which provides slidable shelf means to supplement the available working space.

Heretofore, supports for dictionaries or the like have been relatively cumbersome, and have been subject to the objection that over a period of time the cuffs and wrists of users have tended to curl and deface the pages of a volume placed on th stand. Furthermore, there has been no writirn surface available for taking notes or the like.

The present invention provides a stand for dictionaries or the like which is of simple yet rugged construction, and which supports a volume so that it cannot be accidentally knocked off the stand, and which prevents the users cuffs and wrists from contacting the pages of the volume. Thus a pair of vertical support members of inverted U-shaped configuration have secured therebetween an inclined surface on which the dictonary may be positioned, the upper, closed ends of the support members being disposed above the surface to form a means which prevents the cuffs and wrists of the user from coming into contact with the pages of the dictionar so that curling of these pages and spotting, marking and discoloration thereof is minimized. To this end, the said closed upper ends of the vertical support members extend parallel to the support surface for the dictionary and in slightly spaced relationship thereabove. These upper ends also cooperate with an upstanding front flange on the inclined shelf to prevent inadvertent dislodgment of the volume. The available working space is selectively adjustable by means of a shelf structure which is slidably mounted for movement into collapsed registration with a preferably horizontal shelf disposed beneath the inclined surface and having guide rails to facilitate movement of the slidable shelf, and stop means are provided such that the shelf may be moved outwardly from either side of the stand of the invention to a predetermined extent. Consequently, the user of a dictionary or the like which may be placed on the inclined support surface may slide the shelf outwardly to either side as desired, and may jot down his observations or findings without having to use the text itself as a writing surface.

In order to further facilitate the researchers task, the stand may be constructed for use as a desk, and reinforcing means for the upright support members are provided which include an open-faced continuous length of tubing or the like horizontally connected to each of the four extensions of the legs in a U-shaped configuration such that the open face thereof is at the front of the stand to accommodate the users knees. Because of this advantage, the support of the invention can also be utilized as a typewriter stand, or for such other purposes as may suggest themselves in a particular situation. However, greater lengths for the vertical support members will permit a stand-up use of the device if desired.

Further reference works such as atlases, etc., may be kept ready at hand on the lower shelf connecting the guide rails for the slidable shelf, and on a subjacent shelf which preferably is provided with an upstanding rear guard flange.

Desirably, the bottom ends of the legs are provided with rollers or the like so that the structure is easily movable to a desired position, although screw domes or other such means may be substituted therefor.

Patented Jan. 16, 1%62 Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a stand for dictionaries or the like, having a support surface which is canted to afford ease in reading, and which maintains the dictionary securely in position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device as described having support legs of an inverted U-shaped configuration to provide end rails above the inclined surface which serve as a guard for the pages of the dictionary so that a users cuffs will not curl and smudge the pages and so that perspiration from the users wrists will not damage the pages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device as described wherein the support legs provide rigidity and are reinforced by means permitting use of the support as a desk and so that the user may be seated while examining the dictionary, or, in the alternative, may use the upper support as a typewriter support or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device as described having an adjustably augmented working surface afforded by a shelf which is disposed in subjacent relationship to the inclined shelf and which may be extended to either side of the said inclined shelf for notetaking purposes or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device as described wherein the shelf is mounted on guide rail means which also provide a preferably horizontal sup port surface beneath the inclined support surface for receiving further volumes for ready reference.

Another object of the invention is to provide stop means on the said guide rail means whereby the extent of movement of the slidable shelf to either side of the stand is limited to a desirable extent,

Another object of the invention is to provide a device as described wherein the upstanding end rails formed by the support legs afford a guard means to prevent sliding of the book from the ends of the stand, and which cooperate with an upstanding flange at the lower end of the inclined support surface for this purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device as described which permits the user to be seated, and wherein a bottom shelf for an atlas or other material is provided sufficiently spaced below the slidable shelf to accommodate such articles and above the location of a users knees.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device as described wherein the guide rails comprise elongated bead formations integral with a metallic support surface, the said head formations minimizing friction with the slidable shelf, so that case of movement is achieved.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a support as described which is exceptionally compact and can be stored or placed in position with a very small amount of floor space, particularly in that the slidable shelf described is collapsible into registration within the confines of the support legs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device as described which has increased mobility as the result of the utilization of rollers at the lower ends of the sup port legs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stand as described which is economical to manufacture, and is adapted to withstand hard use over extended periods of time.

Referring now to the drawings, FEGURE 1 is a perspective view of a stand or support according to the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line IIII of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view, with the legs being cut off somewhat below the bottom shelf thereof and disclosing the structure of the slidable shelf means of the invention with the extended position thereof being indicated in dot-and-dash form and partly broken away.

Referring now to the drawings, a stand is shown according to the present invention which includes a support shelf 12 bridging a pair of upstanding supports 14 and 16 of preferably tubular construction, and of invetted U-shaped configuration to form guard rails 18 and 20. The shelf 12 is disposed at an inclination such that a dictionary or the like may be placed thereupon in a convenient position for reading, and the guard rails 18 and 20 are preferably formed in parallel relationship to the shelf 12, in spaced relationship thereabove such that movement of the users arms and coat sleeves will not tend to contact open dictionary on the shelf and curl up or bend the leaves.

In order to increase selectively the amount of available working space afforded by the stand, a slidable shelf 22, which may be constructed of wood or other suitable material, is adjustably received on guide rails 24 and 26, as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The guide rails desirably have a U-shaped cross-sectional end configuration with the upper portions thereof formed integrally with an upper support surface 28. The upper support surface 28 may be used for supporting further materials and is disposed in proximate subjacent relationship to the inclined support shelf 12. Also in accordance with the invention,

the guide rails form continuous, elongated front and rear bead structures 29, 3t) and 32, 34 at the upper and lower portions thereof, it being seen that the entire guide and support structure may be formed integrally from a single sheet of material.

The shelf 22 is snugly received Within the tracks or guide rails 24 and 26 and desirably is dimensioned to fit in register beneath the surface 28 in a stored position thereof and to slide outwardly therefrom either to the right, as shown in dot-and-dash in FIGURE 1 or to the left, as desired. In order to limit the extent of such outward movement, stop means are provided which preferably include end flanges 36 and 38 formed integrally at opposite ends of the stand on the respective lower flanges 4t) and 42 of the said rails 24 and 26. The flanges 36 and 38 thus provide abutment shoulders for depending stop elements 44 and 46 which are mounted in predetermined spaced relationship from the opposite ends of the shelf 22, as hereinafter further described.

A shelf 48 is formed in parallel underlying relationship to the shelf 22 and the surface 23 therefor, which desirably has a Z-shaped configuration to provide an upstanding rear flange 56 to prevent slidable movement of an atlas or other such article off of the said shelf 48, and a front depending flange 52. The upper shelf 12 is also provided with an upstanding longitudinally extending flange 54 at the front end thereof, and a depending rear flange 56 at the rear edge thereof, the front flange 54 serving to prevent movement of the dictionary or other such article downwardly off the inclined surface provided by the said shelf 12.

It will be appreciated that the flanges 5t and 52 for the shelf 48 and the flanges 54 and 56 for the shelf 12, as well as the vertical ends 58 and 64) of the guide rails 24 and 26 and the support structure 28, thus provide means for welding the said shelves 12, 28 and 48 to the vertical supports 14 and 16. As hereinbefore indicated, these supports are preferably formed of a tubular metal structure, and form individual legs 62 and 64 for the support structure 14 and 66 and 68 for the support structure 16. The welding by which the said shelves may be secured to these legs is generally indicated by reference numerals 70, 72 and 74.

The inverted U-shaped support construction described provides an exceptionally rigid and strong stand, and it will be appreciated that the bridging shelf 12, as well as the shelves 28 and 48 augment the strength of the device. In order to afiord still further rigidity however, a horizontally disposed U-shaped reinforcing bar 76 may be similarly welded at the rear corners 78 and 80 thereof to the legs 62 and 66 respectively and at the ends of the 6:: legs 82 and 84 thereof to the legs 64 and 68 of the vertical supports.

Thus the U-shaped structure 76 is open at the front of the stand 10 so that the user may seat himself and his knees may be received below the shelf 48 without difficulty.

T he ends of the legs 62, 64, 66 and 63 desirably are provided with rollers 86, 88, and 92, as shown in FIGURE 1, but it will be appreciated that other means may be provided at the ends of these legs such as, for example, screw domes or the like, as understood by those skilled in the art. in any event, the stand 10 is exceptionally lightweight despite its ruggedness, and may be easily moved from one location to another as desired, particularly in view of the provision of the said rollers $6 through 92.

Although the stand is illustrated as being of a height convenient for use by a seated person, it will be understood that the vertical supports 14 and 16 may be elongated so that a high stand for stand-up use is afforded. In such a construction, a second reinforcing tube similar to the tube 76 may be secured to the vertical supports 14 and 16 in vertically spaced relation below the tube 76.

In a typical construction of the embodiment shown, the distance from the floor or bottom of the rollers to the shelf 43, may be, for example, approximately two feet, and the shelf 48, may be spaced approximately three inches from the shelf 22, it being understood that such dimensions are illustrative only and in no sense intended as limitations. The surface 28 in turn may have a median spacing of substantially three inches from the shelf 12, although, as indicated, variations in this relationship may be afforded within the scope of the invention. The guard rails 13 and 20 desirably are disposed approximately three inches above the surface 12, or a distance such as to prevent a large volume such as a universal Websters Dictionary or the like from sliding endwise from the stand, as hereinabove described, and to prevent the coat sleeves of the user from curling the pages of the book. The tubing of which the stand is constructed may be, for example, a one inch diameter tubing, although here again it will be appreciated that other types of material and configurations and dimensions may be utilized.

Also, any suitable inclination of the shelf 12 may be provided such as to dispose the volume in a position where reading is easy,

The guard rails 18 and 20 are formed integrally with the legs 62 through 68 and thereby provide exceptional rigidity for the device, in addition to maintaining a volume on the stand during use or when the device is being moved from one location to another.

It will be seen that the shelf 28 below the shelf 12 permits access from the back of the stand 10 so that a purse, brief case or other such article may be readily stored thereon, and the location of the shelf 48 therebelow makes it exceptionally convenient to draw a volume such as an atlas or the like therefrom for positioning on the support surface 12 or otherwise.

Depending on the handedness of the user, or other conditions and factors, the shelf 22 may be selectively slid outwardly from beneath the surface 28 with which it is normally in register, and a notebook or other reference materials may be placed thereon, as an aid to the use of the dictionary and notes may be transcribed by means of the shelf without damaging the dictionary or the like.

The stops 44 and 46 may be set screws or bolts threaded into the board which desirably forms the shelf 22, although, of course, other detent means may be provided; and the stops 44 and 46 are preferably spaced a distance from the ends adjacent thereto such as to afford a rugged and stable mounting for the shelf in its extended position as shown in dot-and-dash in FIGURE 1, For example, a spacing of nine inches of the stops from the adjacent shelf ends may be utilized for this purpose.

The beads 28, 30, 32 and 34 may be formed with a rounded cross-sectional configuration by stamping or otherwise, lon itudinally of the rail means 24 and 26 and preferably in superposed relationship, so that the main surface of the board 22 is kept out of contact with the flanges 41) and 42 and the upper shelf structure 28. Thereby, the board or shelf 22 may be held in firm contact with the beads while its sliding action will be smooth and easy. However, when the device is extended as shown in FIGURE 3, in one direction or the other, the individual stops 44 or 46 will engage the flanges or stop means 36 or 38, as the case may be, to prevent inadvertent removal of the shelf and afford the described stable positioning thereof. As shown in FIGURE 3, for example, the stop or detent 44 is disposed in longitudinal alignment with the shoulder 36 which is normally at the opposite end of the stand from the detent 44 when the shelf 22 is in its retracted position, while the detent 46 is in longitudinal registration with the shoulder or stop 38 at the opposite end of the stand therefrom when the said shelf 22 is retracted.

There has thus been provided a stand which is exceptionally rugged and simple, and which can be manufactured without complicated procedures and by simple stamping and bending operations. The alignment of the parts and the use of the flanged edges on the respective shelves permits welding of the shelves and of the reinforcing tubing 76 to the support legs so that the need for screws and close tolerances is avoided and the device may be readily assembled.

Although the stand has been described as suitable for use with a dictionary or other reference work, it will be appreciated that it has wide application in a variety of situations, and because of its attractive appearance, affords a distinctive asset for institutions such as schools, libraries and offices or elsewhere.

Although I have herein set forth and described my invention with respect to certain specific principles and details thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that these may be varied without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the hereunto appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A stand for reference works and the like comprising a pair of support members each having a pair of vertical legs and 'an upper cross-piece joining said legs and inclined at an acute angle from the horizontal, a shelf bridging said support members in predetermined spaced relationship beneath said cross-pieces, said cross-pieces being inclined in the same direction, said shelf being planar and inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal and in substantial parallelism with said cross-pieces, the cross-piece of each said support member being in coplanar relationship with the legs thereof, whereby to provide a guard serving to prevent the cuffs of a user from fraying or damaging the pages of a reference work which may be supported on said shelf, an upstanding flange at the lower longitudinal edge of said shelf and extending between said support members to retain a reference work on said shelf despite the inclination of said shelf, a horizontally extending shelf disposed a predetermined distance below said inclinded shelf and similarly connecting said support members, a downwardly and inwardly turned flange extending longitudinally along each side of said horizontally disposed shelf and formed integrally therewith, a longitudinally extending bead in the inwardly extending portions of said flanges and a superposed longitudinally extending bead in said shelf above each of said beads in said inwardly extending portions of said flanges, said beads protruding toward one another in spaced relationship to afford a pair of tracks, and a shelf of relatively thick material slidably received in said tracks for selective adjustment to either side of said stand.

2. A stand for reference works and the like comprising a pair of support members each having a pair of vertical legs and an upper cross-piece joining said legs and inclined at an acute angle from the horizontal, a shelf bridging said support members in predetermined spaced relationship beneath said cross-pieces, said cross-pieces being inclined in the same direction, said shelf being planar and inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal and in substantial parallelism with said cross-pieces, the crosspiece of each said support member being in coplanar relationship with the legs thereof, whereby to provide a guard serving to prevent the cuffs of a user from fraying or damaging the pages of a reference work which may be supported on said shelf, an upstanding flange at the lower longitudinal edge of said shelf and extending between said support members to retain a reference work on said shelf despite the inclination of said shelf, a horizontally extending shelf disposed a predetermined distance below said inclined shelf and similarly connecting said support members, a downwardly and inwardly turned flange extending longitudinally along each side of said horizontally disposed shelf and formed integrally therewith, a longitudinally extending head in the inwardly extending portions of said flanges and a superposed longitudinally extending head in said shelf above each of said beads in said inwardly extending portions of said flanges, said beads protruding toward one another in spaced relationship to afford a pair of tracks, and a shelf of relatively thick material slidably received in said tracks for selective adjustment to either side of said stand, an end flange on each of said inwardly extending flange portions in coplanar relationship therewith, and a stop member at each end of said relatively thick shelf and on opposite sides thereof, said stop members coacting with said end flanges to form limit means limiting the movement of said relatively thick shelf in either direction from beneath said horizontally disposed shelf.

3. A stand for reference works and the like comprising a pair of support members each having a pair of vertical legs and an upper cross-piece joining said legs and inclined at an acute angle from the horizontal, a shelf bridging said support members in predetermined spaced relationship beneath said cross-pieces, said cross-pieces being inclined in the same direction, said shelf being planar and inclined at an acute angle to the horizontal and in substantial parallelism with said cross-pieces, the crosspiece of each said support member being in coplanar re lationship with the legs thereof, whereby to provide a guard serving to prevent the cuffs of a user from fraying or damaging the pages of a reference work which may be supported on said shelf, an upstanding flange at the lower longitudinal edg of said shelf and extending between said support members to retain a reference work on said shelf despite the inclination of said shelf and a plurality of vertically spaced horizontally extending shelves below said inclined shelf, and in spaced relationship thereto, said horizontally extending shelves having longitudinally extending flanges on each side thereof and said inclined shelf having 21 depending flange at the upper longitudinal edge thereof, said flanges of each of said shelves having a welded bond at each end thereof joining each of said flanges to the adjacent legs of said support members.

4. In a stand for reference works and the like, a rectangular shelf having a downwardly and. inwardly extending flange along each longitudinal edge thereof, an upwardly disposed bead extending longitudinally along the inwardly extending flange portion of each of said downwardly and inwardly extending flanges, a downwardly disposed bead extending along each edge of said shelf in register with the head on the inwardly extending flange portion adjacent thereto, said registered beads being in predetermined vertically spaced relation and forming a pair of tracks, a support leg for each corner of said shelf, means securing said support legs to said corners of said shelf, a relatively thick shelf slidably disposed in said tracks in underlying relation to the first mentioned shelf, an end flange on each of said inwardly extending flange portions in coplanar relationship therewith, said end flanges being at opposite ends of the first mentioned shelf, and a stop element on said relatively thick shelf at each end thereof adapted to selectively abut the end flange at each end of the first mentioned shelf whereby to afford selective movement of the relatively thick shelf outwardly from beneath said first mentioned shelf for a distance such as to retain the relatively thick shelf in supported extended relationship while providing additional shelf space as desired.

5. A stand for reference works and the like comprising a pair of support members each having a pair of vertical legs and an upper cross-piece joining said legs, said crosspieces being each inclined at an acute angle from the horizontal, a shelf having a flange extending along opposite edges thereof in obtuse angular relationship to the plane of said shelf, a welded bond at each end of each of said flanges and joining each of said flanges to corresponding vertical legs of each of said support members, and securing said shelf in bridging relationship between said support members and in predetermined proximately spaced relationship beneath said cross-pieces, one of said flanges on said shelf extending upwardly from said shelf to retain a reference work on said shelf, said cross-pieces being inclined in the same direction and said shelf being inclined at an acute angle and in substantial parallelism to said cross-pieces, the cross-piece of each support member being in coplanar relationship with the legs thereof, whereby to provide a guard serving to prevent the cuffs of a user from fraying or damaging the pages of a reference work which may be supported on said shelf.

6. A dictionary stand or the like which comprises a pair of laterally spaced inverted U-shaped upright ends providing front and rear legs and top front to rear guard rails joining a front leg with a back leg at each end of the stand, rollers on the ends of the legs, a horizontal U-shaped reinforcing member intermediate the top and bottom of the ends having side legs between and united to the front and rear legs, and a rear bight portion spanning the space between the rear legs, a top shelf spanning the space between the ends and secured to the ends adjacent and below the guard rails, a slide support spaced below the top shelf secured to the ends, and a pull out slide carried by said support and fitting between the front and rear legs of each end for selective lateral projection beyond each end to provide a desk surface adjoining the shelf.

7. A stand for a dictionary or other reference book which comprises a pair of inverted U-shaped tubular upright ends providing front and rear legs and a guard rail connecting the top ends of the legs and extending from a front leg along an upwardly inclined plane to a rear leg, rollers on the bottom ends of said legs, an inclined flat top shelf substantially parallel with the guard rails and secured to the front and rear legs below the guard rails to span the space between the ends, said top shelf having an upturned flange along the bottom edge extending across the front of the stand to retain a dictionary or the like on the shelf, track means below the top shelf secured to the ends, a pull out shelf slidably supported in said track means and fitting between the front and rear legs of each end for selective projection laterally beyond either end to provide a desk surface adjacent the top shelf, and a U-shaped reinforcing tube below the track means having side legs between the front and rear legs of each end and secured thereto and a back bight portion spanning the space between the rear legs to rigidify the assembly without obstructing the open front of the stand.

8. A stand which comprises a pair of upright inverted U-shaped tubular ends, said ends providing front and rear legs and top guard rails connecting the legs, a supporting shelf spanning the space between the ends and secured to the legs immediately adjacent and below said guard rails whereby said rails will serve to prevent the cuffs of a user of a book or the like on said supporting shelf from damaging the pages of the book, a slide support spaced below said supporting shelf secured to said ends, a pull out slide carried by said support and fitting between the front and rear legs of each end for selective lateral projection beyond each end to provide a desk surface adjoining said supporting shelf, cooperating abutrnent means on said slide and slide support to limit the lateral projection of the slide for retaining a supporting portion of the slide in the slide support to thereby main tain the slide in the plane of the support, and a U-shaped reinforcing tube below said slide support having side legs between the front and rear legs of each end and secured thereto and a back bight portion spanning the space between the rear legs to rigidify the assembly without obstructing the open front of the stand.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,892,414 Ulrich Dec. 27, 1932 2,006,580 Broun July 2, 1935 2,062,482 Svikhart Dec. 1, 1936 2,846,285 Wright Aug. 5, 1958 2,886,186 Hamilton May 12, 1959 2,910,802 Garner Nov. 3, 1959 

